Visa for the United Kingdom from Tanzania: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. For a tourist stay of up to six months, Tanzanians must obtain a UK Standard Visitor visa. It covers tourism, family visits and certain one-off business activities. It must be granted before you travel, there is no visa on arrival.

• Government fee135 GBP
• Application centre feeVariable, set by the operator
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

We do not quote a specific amount here: check GOV.UK for the official Standard Visitor fee, which changes regularly. Prepare a valid passport, evidence of funds, proof of accommodation, your itinerary and material showing your ties to Tanzania (job, studies, family). An invitation letter can support a family or business visit.

You complete the application online on GOV.UK, where you create an account, answer the questionnaire and pay the fee. You then book an appointment at a UK Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Tanzania, in Dar es Salaam, to give your fingerprints and photo. Some documents are uploaded online, others scanned at the appointment.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Tanzania, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Tanzania but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing times depend on the season and the centre; rely on GOV.UK's guidance rather than a fixed estimate. Apply several weeks before travel and book your biometrics slot in Dar es Salaam early. A clear, consistent file speeds up the decision.

A classic mistake is under-documenting the purpose of the trip or failing to show you will leave the UK at the end of the visit. Unclear bank statements or details that conflict between the form and the attachments often lead to refusal. Also make sure your passport stays valid for the whole stay.